By Cllr James Moore
As we fully enter 2024, we know that we will have Local Elections here in Reading in May and almost certainly a General Election at some point.
For residents not aware, the Parliamentary boundaries have completely changed across Berkshire, so Reading Borough is now covered by three Constituencies.
Reading Central now covers the lion’s share, with the Whitley/Church area moving into a new ‘Earley and Woodley’ constituency and Tilehurst, Kentwood and Norcot joining a vast new constituency of Reading West & Mid-Berkshire, which goes all the way out into West Berkshire to places like Bucklebury, Basildon and the aptly named ‘World’s End’.
I’m delighted that we have selected Helen Belcher OBE to be our Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Reading West & Mid-Berkshire, a strong campaigner for residents who will make a fantastic MP.
Thanks to the excellent work of our colleagues over on West Berkshire Council (who took control from the Tories last May), the Lib Dems now have more Councillors than any other Party in Reading West & Mid-Berkshire so we are the clear challengers to the Tories who have the second highest amount. Labour did not even stand candidates in many wards in the new constituency at the 2023 Local Elections.
Turning to more Council-based issues, I was incredibly disappointed to see Reading Borough Council offering poor cybersecurity advice to residents at the end of last year, with advice suggesting they should disable their web browser security to view planning applications.
This was even seized upon by cybersecurity experts online and criticised to their hundreds of thousands of social media followers – not a good look for Labour-run RBC.
I will be asking at the full Council meeting on January 30 what concrete steps the Council is taking to prove to residents that it takes their cybersecurity, and its own cybersecurity seriously, including achieving Cyber Essentials, one of the very basic certifications that an organisation can achieve in this space.
Myself and the other Liberal Democrat Councillors will continue to be on the side of residents to ensure they are getting the very best deal from Cllr James Moore is the Liberal Democrat group leader on Reading Borough Council and ward member for Tilehurst
